Support and protective receptacle for contact lens



April 12, 1960 M. H. FAGAN 2,932,383

SUPPORT AND PROTECTIVE RECEPTACLE FOR cou'mcw LENS Filed Oct. 21, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2* 1X; f Mk42;;------------- IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent SUPPORT AND' PROTECTIVE RECEPTACLE FOR CONTACT LENS Murray H. Fagan, Boston, Mass., assignor to American Stay Company, Maiden, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 21, 1958, Serial No. 768,643 7 Claims. (c1. 206

This invention relates to a support and receptaclem which to carry and protect one or more contact lenses.

One object of my invention is to provide such a sup the surface thereof.

Still another object is to provide said support in the form of a case that can be closed and carried on the person.

A further object is to provide such a support and receptacle that is compact, relatively simple. and economical to manufacture and is durable.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction combination and arrangement of parts such as is disclosed by the drawings. The nature of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and therefore, I am not to be limited to the construction disclosed by the drawings nor to the particular parts described in the specification; but am entitled to all such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my claims.

In the drawings:

' Fig. 1 is a plan view of my support and two protective receptacles, in the form of a carrying case, showing protective flaps of said case in open position, and the covers in closed position on the receptacles.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. l. i

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of said case in closed position, the said receptacles being enclosed 'within it.

Fig. 6 is a plan view, broken away, showing the receptacle support with spectacle recesses therein, said receptacles being omitted, and showing flaps for said case.

As illustrated, I provide a receptacle support 10 which is preferably made of resilient material such as polyvinyl foam, for instance. It has two cavities each haw'ng an intermediate recess 12, from which extends an extension recess 14 at one end, and another extension recess 16 at the opposite end, which extension recesses communicate directly with said intermediate recess 12. At one side, there is another and larger recess 18 shown, which is intended to receive a bottle or other container to hold a liquid preparation that is applied to a contact lens, later described, which latter is commonly made of plastic Two receptacles 20, each receiving a contact lens 22, or other delicate article, may be made of flexible material such as a flexible plastic or a rubber compostion. Each said receptacle 20 extends into a said intermediate rebe cemented thereto.

2 cess 12 and a portion 24 of its bottom is raised or convex-shaped at its outer surface, upon which a cushion insert 26 rests that is made of a resilient or yielding material that preferably is liquid-absorbent, to protectively receive said contact lens 22. This insert 26 is preferably made of an inert plastic-material, A to ,4 thick, which will not affect said contact lens or the liquid preparation commonly applied thereto.

Said receptacle 20, at its bottom, maybe fusedto said resilient support 10, if they are formed of a material that will stand considerable heat without disintegrating, such as apolyvinyl or. other well known plastics, or it may Said receptacle 20 has a hollow cover 30, which; fits outs ideof, and makes a firm cover enclosurefor. it ,by friction fit therewith. This cover is provided .witha finger tab 32 for convenience, which tab extendsintosaid 'end extension recess 14 when said cover is in closed position. Between said receptacle 20 and cover 30 is an elongate connector 34 which extends in part into said end extension recess 16 .both when said cover is in closed position and when in open position. It is advantageous to make said receptacle 20, connector 34, cover 30 and tab 32 integral, forming them as a single unit.

I provide an outer backing sheet 38 outside of, and attached to, said support 10, which protects the latter and which may be made of cloth, plastic, leather or other suitable material. This may form the backing for an enclosure case, in which event two flaps 40 and 42 extend from opposite sides thereof. At right angles to said flaps 40 and 42 is a relatively short outer flap 44 having a snap fastener portion 46, and a relatively long outer flap 48 having the other part '50 of a snap fastener that is adapted to cooperate with said portion 46 whereby said enclosure case may be removably fastened in closed position. Said outer flaps 44 and 48 extend from opposite sides of said outer sheet 38.

A mirror 52, made of stainless steel, for instance, may be cemented to said longer outer flap 48, as a further convenience.

What I claim is:

1. A support and receptacle for contact lens comprising a resilient support having an intermediate recess therein, a first end recess in communication therewith, and another end recess in communication therewith, a flexible receptacle extending into said intermediate recess, a cover for said receptacle embodying a tab extending into said first end recess when said cover is in closed position, and aconnector connecting said receptacle and cover extending into the other said end recess.

2. A support and receptacle for contact lens comprising a resilient support having an intermediate recess therein, a first end recess in communication therewith, and another end recess in communication therewith, a flexible receptacle extending into said intermediate recess, a flexible insert in said receptacle to provide a rest for said contact lens, a flexible cover for said receptacle embodying a tab extending into said first end recess when said cover is in closed position, and a flexible elongate connector connecting said receptacle and cover extending into the other said end recess.

3. A support and receptacle for contact lens comprising a resilient support having a first recess therein and another recess in communication therewith, a flexible rebottom, said bottom and said support being integrally united.

anemone Aholdingdevice for contact lens comprising asup port, an inner receptacle attached to said support having a bottom and sidewall, a cover for said inner receptacle, and a' flexible connector Connecting said'inner receptacle =arid"'cover,-said inner receptacle embodying a 'botto'm "having-a' 'resilient raised portion.

1 '5. A holdingdevice' for contact lens comprising a supportg inner receptacle attached to said support having a bottom and sidewall, -a cover forsaid inner receptacle, a flexible connector connecting said inner receptacle and cover, and a liquid absorbent-resilientinsert within said i-n'ner receptacle resting on the bottom thereof.

*"='6.-'A holding 'device for contact lens comprising-a support, an inner receptacle attached to said support, a cover for said'inner receptacle, a flexible connector connecting said inner receptacle and cover, said inner receptacle em- "bodying' a bottom having a resilient raised portion and "a-*sidewall,-'and 1a-resilient insert within said inner receptacle resting onsa'id raised portion andhaving greater -resil-ience-than-said raised portion.

said inner receptacle resting on said raised portion and "having greater resilience than said'raised portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,805,507 Buquor Sept. 10, 1957 2,842,178 Solomon July 8, 1958 'Wagner Nov. 18, 1958 

